The question of female sexuality is being hotly debated in academic, political, and general public arenas. This resulted in the woman’s appearance being redrawn, among other things. In one way or another, the 1950s appear to have started such a change in television and popular culture on a larger scale than before. As a result, it is vital to consider how women’s sexuality was viewed during that period, as well as the signals that were sent and how they either supported or refuted the conventional beliefs of the day.
One of the most well-known notions related to women and femininity in society has been beauty pageants. They were first conceived in the early 1920s and initially solely judged physical appeal but when talent was also taken into consideration in the 1950s, they evolved into a more complicated phenomenon (Whitney, 2019). However, one of the attendees’ experiences revealed that the organizers and sponsors, who were primarily men, continued to prioritize physical appearance (Whitney, 2019). Additionally, being a member of the white race was a requirement. As a result, the ideal lady portrayed in 1950s beauty pageants was a white, pretty, talented, middle-class woman. As women’s post-war living conditions deteriorated, this concept started to spread among them. They were, therefore, able to maintain their appeal even during culturally restrictive periods.
The Barbie doll is another key 1950s phenomenon that defined the perception of women in society. Girls’ toys during the time included baby dolls and miniature versions of everyday objects like a vacuum cleaner or tea set, suggesting a family-centered lifestyle for the future woman (Miralles et al., 2020). New Barbie sets ended this monopoly and provided fresh representations of women as professionals or fashion models. Barbie doll was a mature lady with a decent figure and a range of clothing, as well as a grown woman, which tends to cause young minds to consider how they would want to seem (Miralles et al., 2020). This was essentially influencing, adding appearance to the list of concerns.
In the 1950s, celebrities like Marilyn Monroe also had a big impact on how people thought about women. Despite her ambition and demonstrated talent to portray complex and intelligent characters, she portrayed a simple-minded but endearing blonde who was loved by everyone in the majority of her performances (Szymkowska-Bartyzel, 2022). Her emphasis on skimpy attire challenged modest daily attire and guaranteed popularity among the male populace. In contrast to intelligence, which seemed to be in high demand, Monroe privately despised the popularization of sensuality, but the public and the industry offered her little opportunity in this area.
A white, pretty lady from the middle class was the idealized representation of female sexuality in the 1950s. Marilyn Monroe and other sexual icons were unwilling to advocate for looks as a deciding element in life, and success and intelligence were undervalued. This image flourished in the patriarchal culture of the post-war era, which encouraged more relaxed attire and placed emphasis on beauty. At the same time, women adored the Miss America promoted fantasy of being praised for their intelligence and attractiveness. Finally, owing to the introduction of toys featuring attractive women, the value of appearance started to rule the younger generation’s brains. None of these idols, however, advocated for racial equality because beauty standards primarily favored white people, thus exacerbating class distinctions.
References
Miralles, C., Ragpala, L., Oliva, M., Parohinog, A., Arciaga, J., Bandral, K., & Galang, R. (2020). Barbie dolls: People’s body standards. Res. J, 3(1), 137-155. Web.
Szymkowska-Bartyzel, J. (2022). Marilyn Monroe’s on-screen spectrum of femininity: Types and nature of her movie characters. Ad American, 23(1), 103-117. Web.
Whitney, J. D. (2019). Working girls: Economies of desire in the American child beauty pageant. The Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth, 12(3), 452–470. Web.